Shock jock

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A shock jock is a radio broadcaster or DJ who entertains listeners and attracts attention using humor or melodramatic exaggeration that may offend some portion of the listening audience. The term is used pejoratively to describe provocative or irreverent broadcasters whose mannerisms, statements and actions are typically offensive to much of society. It is a popular term within the radio industry. A shock jock is the radio equivalent of the tabloid newspaper in that both consider entertaining their audience to be as important as—if not more important than—providing factual information. A radio station that relies primarily on shock jocks for programming has what is called a hot talk format.

Contents

The term is used in two broad, yet sometimes overlapping, contexts:

  1. The radio announcer who deliberately makes outrageous, controversial, or shocking statements, or does boundary-pushing stunts to improve ratings.
  2. The political radio announcer who has an emotional outburst in response to a controversial government policy decision.

Background

The idea of an entertainer who breaks taboos or who is deliberately offensive is not a new one: Blue comedians have existed throughout history; take, for example, offensive performers such as George Carlin, Petronius, Benny Bell, Le Pétomane, Redd Foxx and Lenny Bruce. Petey Greene, who started broadcasting in 1966, has been called the original radio shock jock by some, [1] although the term was not used until 1986, two years after Greene's death. [2] Greene was an influence on Howard Stern, whose radio shows in the 1980s led to the first widespread use of the term "shock jock".

Shock jocks also tend to push the envelope of decency in their market, and they may appear to show a lack of regard for communications regulations (e.g., FCC rules in the U.S.) regarding content. However, nearly all American broadcasters have strict policies against content that is likely to draw indecency forfeitures, and air personalities are often contractually obligated to avoid broadcasting such content.

Many shock jocks have been fired as a result of such punishments as regulatory fines, loss of advertisers, or simply social and political outrage. On the other hand, it is also not uncommon for such broadcasters to be quickly rehired by another station or network. Shock jocks in the United States have been censored under additional pressure from the United States government since the introduction of the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005, which increased the fines on radio stations for violating decency guidelines by nearly 20 times. [3]

Notable examples

North America

Great Britain

Australia

See also

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References

  1. Radio's first shock jock: The Legacy Continues WDKK
  2. "Definition of shock jock". merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  3. Sam, Brownback (15 June 2006). "S.193 - 109th Congress (2005-2006): Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005". thomas.loc.gov. Archived from the original on 3 July 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  4. Radio Employee Wins Suit Over Aired Personal Jokes, from the Los Angeles Times, February 15, 1990
  5. St. Pierre, Nancy (January 16, 1991). "D/FW accuses 1 in hoax KEGL worker named in toy-gun smuggling". The Dallas Morning News.
  6. SHAW, DAVID (1993-09-17). "Did Reporters Let Their Feelings Affect Coverage? : Journalism: Resentment over White House treatment led to overblown and hostile stories about Clinton". Los Angeles Times. ISSN   0458-3035 . Retrieved 2016-10-29.
  7. Brown, John W. (2008). Missouri Legends: Famous people from the Show-Me State. St. Louis: Reedy Press. pp. 210–211.
  8. "Selena's public outraged". 10 July 2007. Archived from the original on 10 July 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. 'King of all media' loses toehold in Canada Archived 1998-12-06 at the Wayback Machine The Ottawa Citizen November 24, 2001
  10. "Britney Death Hoax Fools Fans". BBC News. June 12, 2001.
  11. Collins, Dan (August 21, 2002). "DJs Dumped Over Church Sex Stunt". CBS News.
  12. "Women's groups outraged by radio host". Reuters. 2003-07-23. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
  13. "FCC Issues Steep Indecency Fines". CBS News. 2004-01-27.
  14. "Howard Stern suspended for indecency". CNN. February 24, 2004. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012.
  15. Gavin, Robert. Cruel words have a price – Times Union – Albany NY
  16. "Ryan Chiachere, "Imus called women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos""], Media Matters, April 7, 2007".
  17. Zielenziger, David (August 15, 2012). "Limbaugh Boycott Draws Blood: Cumulus Media Cites 'Drag' In 2Q Revenue". International Business Times.
  18. "Radio show suspended after jokes about trial: Shock jocks had apologized for 'homophobic' remarks". Toronto Star , December 2013.
  19. 1 2 3 "Jury foreman's jokes spark call for judicial review: Radio producer joins in mocking gays on broadcast after accused is convicted of sex assault of three men". Toronto Star , December 8, 2013.
  20. "Corus axes Blundell radio show". National Post , January 7, 2014.
  21. "BBC NEWS - UK - England - West Midlands - Scorned wife sells Lotus for 50p".
  22. "DJ'S RADIO GA-GA FOR HIS WIFE'S SISTER; Tim in fantasy prank on live show. - Free Online Library".
  23. Caroline Davies (12 September 2014). "DJ apologises to Jacintha Saldanha's family as nurse's death ruled suicide". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  24. Marks, Kathy (June 14, 2013). "'Is your partner gay?' Shock jock sacked over Gillard interview". The Independent. London. Retrieved 14 June 2013.